“Forgiven you?” she whispered as she sank upon her knees and held the hand she clasped to her cheek—“forgive me.”
“Louise! my darling!” he cried hoarsely as he caught her up to his breast, upon which she lay as one lies who feels at peace.
Seconds? minutes? Neither knew; but after a time, as she stood with her hands upon his shoulders gazing calmly in his eyes, she said softly—
“Tell me now: what did Harry say?” Leslie was silent for a while. Then, clasping her more tightly to his breast, he said in a low, deep voice—
“Tell Louie I have found in you the truest brother that ever lived; ask her some day to make it so indeed.”
There was a long silence, during which the door was pressed slowly open; but they did not heed, and he who entered heard his child’s words come almost in a whisper.
“Some day,” she said; “some day when time has softened all these griefs. Your own words, Duncan.”
“Yes,” he said, “my own.”
“Hah!”
They did not start from their embrace as that long-drawn sigh fell upon their ears, but both asked the same question with their eyes.